MiitcUm9, 



FOR THECENTISEL. 



[Ths foUo-.vinr^ Lir.ty was wrote aiiJ pr.blifl^eJ imrr.e- 
♦iLiicly afte«' the jrrcMt fue, March 20> i ';6o, and is now 
rei)ubiilhid as a;),>lickbie to the late Coaflagratiou.j 

TME uncertainty of h'ltnan life, the tranfitory nature 
and continual /iciriitudes olthis jiref^nt ftateof hei-ijj 
rnul of all cnjoymsiils and poireliions in it, are truths fu 
\vcll knTfv/n to every tljaug'tful pcrfi)n,an-i haveioofiea 
been the fuhjeifls of j-.uliciduS u'j'itcrs in all ages, that the 
rtronq;;;ft invention c.in perhaps fcarctfi 'id any thing nevv 
Ff) otfir, and a m-^v'cll Mdfe wiih reluf^ance undertakes 
ths 'chcTie : Vet f.ich is the frailty of human nature, that 
\vi)cn a fuJden Cataftrophe furrbunwls us themmd is fuu- 
. tercu' and difconc^rted, and does not r;:aJily collefl th.)fe 
reflections fiiiiable to the ()ccafi.>n, (>r elle by Jibing 
been ufed ro negie6l ^-.vi'i refiici'Vtons, froTi a con-oeption 
that tiiey mud needs flo'.v natarally fiom fucllcr^laniities 
a*. Ihnuld produce I hern, the rr.itid ttiroi^gh- tiifiife, may 
not int^meJiateiy conceive them v/Iien v.-:intv-d. It is 
tru;, llie voice of nature has always hstn rhe fame, 
is continually foanuing, and ur.uerftond by all ; yet 
.Aran29 to fay, what we he^r t!ic ofteneft, we attend to 
the leaA. and wliat wc are fhe mod certain of, we give j 
the Icafl: heed to j but there are times when g^'nl proti- I 
dence fends a Insider fummons by, th:* flrnnles of nature^! 
?^'^C\ prj';laim3 thc)rctruth<?, wluc.h though they could not * 
opcrat;: by the importance of their nature, yet triay force ; 
their tffcCk by ioizin;; the palHons ; but here frailty a- | 
jTAia takes. place', from extreme tlioorbtleCneis, tl-.e paf- \ 
ilon? b ,ing rouzrd, wc n'Oi on to cotifufion and errof; ! 
\\-.<.t pilots -rowni-.carclcrs by a long caim,we ftesr by the i 
gufl fvf paffinn, .iiiftjad of the comp.ifs of underftanding, 
b.cediefs of the port of truth, and negiigent of thofe du- 
ties to which the palli )ns were only di-ngr.ed to urre c , , 

To point foith and funilrnife tliefe tru'.li<jliasbeen tlie 
well handled fuhjecfl of t!ie beft writeis ; but %^'hile na- 
tars continjes to lum/non, and tljc wifdom of her voice 
remains in any nienfu-.-e n.egleded, the tiienne cnnnot be 
truly exhanft^d, nor the repetition of it neiJlef?. 

Fur tliefe ends, this Eiriy is prefented to the public 
vi nv, if it pafs u:ider the ju igment "f alik minds, tliey 
will acfiuiefce in any truth, and at ler-.d rr.ny from hence 
take a hint for nobler thouglitj^^ befidei, rlvcre is a fat- 
ijfaftion we all feel in (jiving vent to the tijrnbbings of 
the bofom,!iud in colledling to fomc ordVr, thofe t,ho':ghts 
^vliicli float through t!ie mind on fuch occafitlns. 

Let this then, be the apology; but if ftifl anyone 
fh;nilJ cenfare m? for treading in this unaccuftom^d path 
of v/riting, I rouft quit the difpute and fcreera mvfdf be- 
neath the horrors ofthatnever to be forgotten nig;ht,^\hen 
(he fiam3^ bro'ce loafe on our hcufe-^j and laid fo large a 
part of our capital in ruins: I nra fcnfible that p.aintcd 
terrors ill-become red fc;rrow, 2nd are never to be ufed 
);ut when the pafTions r.:-e fluggifh ; and therefore Y^ZiU 
, fmg oyer that ample fie';l for defcriptLon, vvhioh the late 
unhappy cataflrophe afTords, foall confine myfelf to thofe 
fiber f;i6ls vvhicli no bf)dy fhould be ifz;iorant of, and 
with wliich every body muft needs be afJedtcd. 



It was then in the firft watcUis of the morn'ng, v lien 
onr l)r)dies were fift fettered v.icli fou;i(J;;ft flcep, that 
the five vv'a> firil difcoverec!, and the town r.l.-^rmed ^vith 
;.n oiit-cry ; the inlia')itants u-ere fpeedi'y colied^ed, and 
though t!ie fire was f!)u:id in the cell.lr of a brick, [iouft^ 
yet it fo^jn eat tlirongh '.ts jirifon ; tlie wind hlowiiig 
frelli iirgsd on the flames, and witii furprifing fury tliey 
ravaged in fpite of all oppofition or means to fni^prefs 
iham ; the cintkrs and burning ruins v/crc carried to the 
IcewardmoO: part of the town, by means of vvhich fonie 
who thought tliemfelves in noda.'<ger, vvere tlie fconeft 
confumcd, and tlie inhabitants of tliem being gatlicreit to 
flffin: at the he id of the fire,fuJtered the greatefliolTcs ?it 
thsir own houfesj the like evil happened to numbers of 
tradefmen, whofe fiiops werefo quick fuel fofthe flames, 
tiiat their tools and ftock were nil confumed before they 
conkl repair to them ; in fonie places we heard tlic 
Ibrieks of mothers and children rouzed from their beds 
hy the furroanding flimes, and no man to. help ; h*re 
'wi micrht beliold th<? aged, the fick. and the bcd-rid, whofc 
di(\-ancc fyom the feat of th.- fire gave them hopes of fe- 
cr.rity^driven forth re the inchmcneies of the weather, not 
knnvv'in; where to fnalter; there we might fee tliofs 
whofe leaft tho.:v:hts were placed on their fubf^ance, 
and whofe greatefi anxiety was to fave their lives : Thus 
jMged tUi? fire, forcBig its way at the tvindows of brick 
Iioufes, whofe fiat^d roofs were thought a A) jfi.-ient de- 
fence, thui adding burning to burning, till it left no 
building nnconfained wliere the wind would let it paf-;. 
The natural horrors of the niglit added terror to this 
cataftroph;?j and at once rendsied it more difnial to the 
eye, mure grevious to be born, and more difRculc to be 
fupreffed, till the odious nigJit wore put, and with it 
vanifhed the height of our fc;ars ; but )iot f .♦ :iie reality 
of our forrow, t'ne rifcn fun aiTuaged the glo»m of the 
night, but gave us a difmal [n-ofpcfb of its Iiavock ; a 
fpe6lacle Ihocking to fenfibility ! Like the blaftsd trees 
of fammer» or the fkeleton of fome delightfui body ; yet 
far left ungrateful to the fight than forrowful to be re- 
f.^fled on. Take a fiirvey then of tliefe extended ruins , 
here once livej the loyal fubje(f>, the tender father, 
the obliging friend, and a goad commonwealths-man ; 
but their halntations, as with one fwsep .of a fcy:!ie, are 
nil cut off, and they thrown on the cliarity of their 
I'riends : And is this all } Alas thereaie ilill moreheari- 
j)iercing fcer.es ; walk through the ruin?, and take a 
n-.ore particular account ; here lived t!ie laborious tradef. 
m.\n, on whofs daily imiuftry depended the fuftenance 
t)f ."i i»iim3rous family ; there lived one wliofe ciicum- 
Itances were flraitened with poverty, and diftruired by 
ficknefs : her? 'iresi one jnfl en^cij^mg fvC>'Ti indigence, 
atld reaplngthe firil fruits of honsfl indp.ury ; there livftd 
thofc whofe comfoi table circumllances arvoided a refuge 
for the needy; and an habitation for t!ie friendlefs ; here 
lived th.'>fe whofe fabfiflence depended on their fituation 
for bafuiefs ; rhere lived tliofe whofe all was ip their 
houfes, and here thofe who are ftill unhappily anfwera- 
*blc for all they toil j there lived, and there v/as the fub- 
fiftencti of thtt ag<?d and infirm, whofe frugal indufcry in 
youth, had procured them the merited fupport of eafy 
Old age,whea tlie body unftrung for labor can no longer fup^ 
port itfelf — But all cutoff", their ii.duflry appears noinor^, 
and the fatigues of youth overtakes them,whcn age ftiould 
be at reft ; the children muft bdg, and tli^ indufliiuus 
muil be dependent, t;ie forehanded repeat his toil anew, 
^n^ the debtor lay at mercv ; the friendlefs mufl feek 
for other patrons, and they who pitronizcd implore coin- 
pafTi'on ; the afRuent a»,ed muft forget th?ir eafe, and 
too foon lofe the benefit uf that fabllance which they 
could not carry hence. 






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a'l V/h-re fnall Ihe mifer beftow his hoar^«6r tlie ex- I 
tortioner his ill gotten g-^ins, or I^ow fhall ffie worKHy f 
man fecurc his happinefs when flanifs furrouml hem ? , 
The huf;eni!lt.rsof fir.cak which v>-e Dsheia^fioat.ng to 
the Ikv were at onceemU .n a irnl of our poheffions ;uul 
dechM-:.tivec;f their loft>: But wl.at fny thefe mighty vu- 
im ' they ihew ir. r.t how uncertain atenure we hold oar 
e.-.jnyments, foi" next ur/aer a fovereign prov.dence we 
feem indent-' J even to the ftahility of the wind that it d,d 
not v.ry nnd roll the fiames over tlie whole town. W uU j 
how much eafe then can we fhifc the fcene ana fuppofe 
ourklves in the fituation of the prefent d.ftrcned ; v.'.u, 
iloareoKlnefs, orvi&ilaoce that protcaccMis Andi 
being d.ftrovcd, we ([umh\ have f^l^. <^^>™' ',^'^"','^'2 [^ 
narrou ly favcd can we fail tc meU ^vith fympathy ? and 
if ever the gohlan rule was capable of a benevolent appii- 
catinn the moll infenfiblc muft now feci it, aud the n.oit 
hardened put it in pr-aaice ; and he who on this occa- 
fum docs hot beftow bonatifnlly to the relief of the immc- 
I diate fufferers, mufl eitherflatter himfelf with fome pe- 
culiar infaU.ble protcaion, or being defnerate in 
RidJinefs, bid a bold defiance to all calamity. Nor 
can any one, though nut immediately expofed to this 
dearu^ion, r:rino' ciiftant frcm this capital, furmifethat 
they have no p:m in its general admonition ; 'tis nature's 
voice that well known herald of the Almighty which 
tho' It be rvaw uttered here, yet echoej every where ; 'tis 
but onel.ilhofthaiamazin- fcourge, branthfhed by the 
hand of vcngoancr, agair.ft a guilty world ; the fame f^re 
may parch uo that land which it does not coniumc, and 
e-^uhqaakes'make iis defolation vVorfc than t!ie prefent; 
if theiefore we are common tenants of a flate vanegatejl 
with joy nnd forrow, merhiaks '^is natural we Ihould m 
f^^,.' m^^(utc Ihare the good of it. which we all want, 
feeing we are equally expofed to the evils of it, under 
'\ which we all dcfue to be i cUeycd. _ 

&' rry fc/al, whnta t!iou?ht arifes ! can it v/ith truth be 
;' faidV thaany in luirnHn lliare, though their d^Uy lupport 
,' were robbery, ftould lurk for thr confuGonot a public calam- 
'" iiy, and plunder the property of the difeelled ; or^that any 



fter cool deliberation, upon wh;itloevei- pretence 



ci- 



;it"vr pirblichlyorFrivrit I'y difcountenance that relief to the 
M diftrelTed vhich we rr.av all at fo.ne time want.and which hu- 
k inanity fuggefts ? forbid it hcav:n ! . 

i\ Alas, wefojourn inavdcqf fears, forrovv on every lici. 
r; furroundsus, and tails f.-)r thofe duties xvhich v/e feci im- 
'"''preffed in out natures, daties fo endehably engraven, th>t a 
heathen faid, " m nothing do we mors imrr.iiate the inlnior- 
tal Gods, than in doing adls of Irindnefs," tlu voice of reve- 
(htion is ftill more explicit, and (o plain, that be who run? 
'ra^yread. PofTcffions take to themfelves win?s ; to what 
purpolc is it then, that we dillrefs, perplex and corrupt nur 
minds in i^etting wealth, the pofTcfnon of which is fo preca- 
rions ? With what face can ws fwell with the conceit of riches 
.and aifumc airs of importance, difdain, opprefs, ind lyran- 
'i nire over lhr>lc bcp.eaih us (perhaps only) in lortunc, vvhen a 
few hours may fet us all on a level ? Hew much does it become 
11^ while in sfRuence to demean ouiielvej with liH.h honelty, 
humanity and beneficence, as that if calamity Oiould over- 
take u-;, v/e may ftand ccnfcfTcdly the worthy ob-edts of nc«d- 
: ful relief? Mcthinks this cntaikophe is big with inftru<ftion, 
1 cou.d any rne (?.tihe. dire havock produced from lo fmall a 
1 f.rc, and not feel the obligatioRS we owe to the community jn 

IUur-.:n:-omy of this neceltary but.devourine elem-nt, and o.f 
\erery thing that is ept fuel for the fa.r>e ? for as our pof- 
if-lTior^s are net fccuicd by ourowr finzle carelulnefc, the duty 
...Ithcrclore becomes general j and may I be permitted to take -a 
ijbint from Ihi: dreadful defolation, and point it forth as an 
[.(emblem of that di^lruaion, which the pajions whcs Ir.l Icofc 
[Jprod'.'.ce in hun^an minds 5 when the firft cy.cefs is not (up- 
Inreffed, like the htt f re :hcy ravage, incre vie by runninp,and 
Jmay dcrtroy everv t^ .g valudblc in the mind ; m-y entirely 
I drip us of that real v :afurc which only can ftand us in itead 
llvvhen a greater conflagration (hall fciic this earth, when wc 
1 {Irall be as little anxin i<; to fave our lives, s.s many Utcly 
I were to favc their wcrHly poiTe(t]ar.s. 



"■ ' / ^ ^ 







god's Hand and Providence to be reli- 

gioufly acknowledged in public Calamities, 



SERMON 

Occasioned bv 

The Great Fire 

IN 

BOSTON,NEW.ENGLAND, 

Thurfday March 20. 1760* 
And preached on the 

LORDVDAY following. 

By 

JONATHAN MATHETF, D. D. 

Paftor of the WiST-Church in Boston. 

\ - 

BOSTON: 

Printed by Richard Draper, in Newbury-Streec,' 
Edes and Gill, in Queen-Street, and Thomas 
and John Fleet, in Cornhill. 1760. 



-i-^ 



A Sermon occafioned 
by the Fire in Boston, 

MARCH 1760. 



AMOS III. 6. 

SHALL there he evil in a city^ 

and the LORD hath not done it P 



WHAT devaftation have we lately feen made 
in a few hours I How many houfes, and 
other buildings, fuddenly confumed I How 
much wealth deftroyed I How many un- 
happy families, rich and poor together, left deftitute 
of any habitation, except thofe which cither private 
friend fhip, or public charity fupplied ! What diftrefs 
in every face ; lome mourning their own unhappy lot, 
others tenderly fympathizing with them ; and none 
knowing when, or where, the wide defolation would 
germinate ! 

«* AFFLICTIOje 



6 A Sertnon occajtoned by the 

** Afflxction Cometh not forth of the duft, nei# 
" ther doth trouble fpring out of the ground •/' to be 
fure, not fuch trouble and affliflion as this ; a calami* 
ty, fo great and extenfive ! This is a vifitation of pro- 
vidence, which demands a ferious and religious con- 
fideracion. And it is with a view to lead you into 
fome proper reflexions on this melancholy occafion, 
that I have chofen the words read, for the fubjcft of 
my difcourfe at this time : *' Shall there be evil in a 
city," faith the prophet, " and the LORD hath not 
" done it ?" 

It is to be obferved, that altho' thefc words bear 
the form of a queftion, the defign of them is ftrongly 
to aflert, that there is no evil in a city, which theLord 
hath not done. Interrogatory forms of expreffioa, 
are often to be thus underftood : I mean, as the moft 
peremptory, and aniaiated kind of affirmations. Thus, 
for example, when it is demanded — " Can a man take 
" fire in his bofom, and his cloaths not be burnt ?" i* 
Every on.e underftands this, as equivalent to aflerting 
the impoflibility hereof in the ftrongeft terms. So, 
when it is afked, '* Can a man be profitable unto 
" God ? — Or is it gain to him, that thou makeft thy 
" ways perfed ? Will he reprove thee for fear of 
" thee.^"* A peremptory denial of thefe leveral 
things, is univerfally underflood by thofe queftions. 
As if it had been faid. Verily, a man cannot be profita- 
table unto God ! Sec. And when, after a reprefenta- 
tion of the great wickednefs and depravity of the 
Jcwifh nation, it is immediately fubjoined, " Shall I 
*^ not vifit for thefe things ? fakh the Lord : Shall 
** not my foul be avenged on fuch a nation as this?*'1l 
It is equivalent to a pofitive denunciation of the divine 
vengeance againfi; that finful people : and evert more 
exprefTive, than if it had been faid directly ^— I will V*- 

fiC 

t Prov. VL 27. * Job KXII. 7, 3, ^, I J-r. V. 29. 



Fire in Bofton, March 1760, f 

ik for thefe things : My foul fiiall be avenged on 
fueh a nation as this. This would have been com- 
paratively a cold, unanimated way of fpeaking ; far' 
Icfs adapted to make an imprcflion on the reader or- 
hearer, than the other. 

'The manner of exprefiion in the text, is obvioufly 
the fame with that, in the paffages quoted above; be- 
ing more forcible than a fimpie affirmation would have- 
been, without fome note of afleverarion preceeding. 
It is as if it had been faid. Verily, or, furely, there \% 
no evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it. 

However, to prevent a dangerous error here, it 
muft be particularly remember'd, that by " evil " in 
the text, is not meant moral evil, or fin ; but only 
natural, viz, pain, afflidion and calamity. It cannot 
be fuppofed, that the prophet intended to attribute any 
other evil to God, as the author of it, befides the lat- 
tser. ** Far be it from God^ that he (liould do wick- 
** edly •, and from the Almighty, that he fhould per* 
" vert judgment !'* Nor can the finful and evil anions 
of men, properly be attributed to him ; or to any 
over-ruling providence of his, confidered as their im- 
pulfivc caufe, or as making them become neceflary. 
*^ Let no man fay [therefore] when he is tempted, 
** 1 am tempted of God : for God cannot be tempted 
•* with evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every 
** man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own 
•* luft, and enticed. Then when luft hath conceived, 
'* it bringcth forth fin.'*-t* This is the account which 
the apoftle gives of the origin of fin, or m^ral evil ; 
beyond which, if we pretend to go, in the w^y of fpe* 
culation and refinement ; we fhall probably, at befl:, 
only amufe ourfelves, and perhaps not be innocent. 
If God is not properly faid, even to " tempt *' men 

to 
t James I. 13, 14, i^. 



8 A Sermon occajioned hy the 

to do evil ; much lefs can it be truly faid, that he 
compels them to do it, by any fecret energy, or ope- 
ration, of his. We are doubtlefs, therefore, to under- 
ftand the prophet as fpeaking here, only of natural 
evil, in contradiflindlion from moral : So that it will 
amount to this, that God is the author of all thofe 
calamities and fuflPerings, which at any time befal a 
city, or community. They are not to be looked on 
as the efFe(fks of chance, or accident 5 which are but 
empty names ; but as proceeding ultimately from 
him, the fupreme governor of the world ; and this, 
even tho' they are more immediately and vifibly ow- 
ing to the folly, or vice and wickednefs, of men. 

To fay, In this fenfe, that there is no evil in a city, 
which the Lord hath not done, is indeed no more, in 
efFedt, than to aflert the univerfal government and 
providence of God •, which, I fuppofe, we all believe, 
whatever difficulties may attend our fpeculations on 
the fubje(5l. If God is the fupreme ruler of the world, 
and exercifeth luch a univerfal government over it, as 
the fcriptures every where fuppofe and teach, and as 
nothing but folly or impiety can deny ; he mufl, in 
fome fenfe, either mediately or immediately, be the 
author rf whatever events come to pafs in it. We 
cannot fuppofe that there are any evils, or calamities, 
whether public or private, in the production whereof 
he has no concern, and which he did not defign, with- 
out a partial denial of his dominion and providence. 
For if any events come to pafs, contrary to, or befide 
his defign, or without, and independently of him ; his 
dominion is not an univerfal dominion, nor does his 
kingdom rule over all, as the fcriptures aflert. Thefe 
events, if any fuch there arc, are plainly exceptions to 
the univerfality of his government ; being, according 
to the fuppofition itfclf, fuch as were neither done, nor 

ordered 



Fire In Bofton, March 1760. 

ordered by him. But furely no man but an athiefl, 
cr at lead one who difbelieves the holy fcriptures, can 
think there are really gny fuch events. It is not Icfs 
a diiflate of reafon, than it is a do(5tfine of fcripture, 
that as all things have one common Creator, they are 
all Iubje6l to one common Lord, and under one fu- 
preme adminiftration •, fo that nothing doe?, cr caa 
come to pafs, but in conformity to his will, either pofi- 
tive or permifTive. The denial of which mufl: termi- 
nate, not merely in the denial of a univerfal fuper- 
intending providence, but of one or other of God's 
attributes i either his omnifcience, or his omnipotence, 
if not of both. 

Some public calam/ities are indeed, as was intimated 
above, more immediately and vifibly the Lord's do- 
ings than others. He is, how^ever, to be acknowledg- 
ed as the author of them all in general ; not excepting 
thofe which are brought upon us by the inftrumen- 
tality of fubordinate agents. Thefe are all fubjedt to 
his dominion and controul, and dependent upon him 
in their various operations ; at leaft fo far that they 
can do us no harm, but by his will and confent. 

It may be thought indeed by feme, that God is 
more properly faid only to permit, than to be himfelf 
the author of thofe evils, whether public or private, 
which are brought upon us immediately by inferior 
agents ; or thro* the wicked devices and practices of 
men. It is not worth while to difpute this point, 
which is rather a quel^ion of words and names, than 
of things. For it muft be obferved, that when the 
word permiflion is ufed in this cafe, it implies in it a 
w"'ll and defign, that the things permitted fliould ac- 
tually come to pafs. When God is faid to permit 
any thing, the meaning hereof is not merely this, that 



10 A Sermon oCcofiomd hy the 

he does not prevent it ; for in this fenfc, we alfo might 
be ftid to permit whatever happens thro'ought the 
univerf:*, tho' it were not in our power to prevent 
it : The impropriety of which way of fpeaking, 
would be obviour^ to all. When we fpeak of God's 
permitting things, we mean that he does fo, knowingly 
and Voluntarily, having at the fame time power to 
prevent them, if he pleafed. He might doubtlefs, if 
he pleafed, prevent them by an immedate interpofi- 
tion ; or he might have originally predifpofcd and or- 
dered things otiierwife, and in fuch a manner, that 
thefe partic'jlar events fhould never have come to 
pifs. For which reafon, God's permitting them, 
ieems to amount to a pofitive will, or determination, 
that they fhould conie to pafs \ or at lead, not to differ 
very materially herefrom. 

- Bur not to enter into any niceties upon a fubjecfV, 
fo intricate in its nature \ I (hall content my felf with 
obferving here, that, in the language of fcripture, 
God is not faid to perm/it, but to do, thofe things in 
general, which come to pafs under his government, 
evil as well as good. " I am the Lord, faith he, and 
*' there is none elfe : I form the light, and create 
*' darknefs : I make peace, and create evil •, I the 
" Lord do all thefe things."t The fcriptures do 
not fpeak of God as an unconcerned, or inaflive 
fpeftator, of any events \ but as the author of them •, 
and particularly the author of all the calamities whifh 
befal manliind. Only we are to take heed, that we 
do not fo conceive of his over-ruling providence, as 
to make him the author, or approver, of mens finful 
a(5lions. We are to afcribe to him the nioft univerfal 
dominion and agency, confident with this ncceffary 
caution, or limitation. I fay, confident with this •, left 
Ave fliould be chargeable with blafpheming God, un- 
der 
t ffai. XLV. 6. 7. 



Fire in Boflon, March 1760. 1 1 

der the fhew and appearance of doing honor to him. 
And fome there are, who could not perhaps eafily 
acquit themfelves of this charge, in refpe^t of the man- 
ner in which they exprefs themfelves on the fubje(5t 
of God's providence and decrees. 

But to wave every thing of a controverfial nature, 
for which this is not, to be fure, a proper occafion ; 
let me here jufl: mention a few of thofe many pub- 
lic calamities, which God brings upon mankind from 
age to age. For the ways are numerous, in which 
he manifefls his righteous difpleafure againfi; 
finful nations ; and many the evils which he brings 
on wicked cities and communities, from one gene- 
ration to another. He fitteth upon the circuit of 
the earth ; and all nations] are before him lefs than 
nothing and vanity. All things are fubjeft to his 
controul ; and he makes ufe of them in various ways, 
to accompliih the defigns of his providence. Fire 
and hail, fnow and vapour, and ftormy winds, fulfil 
his pleafure : and the ftars in their courles, at his 
command, fight againft his enemies. 

God fometimes lays cities defolate by the fword 
of their enemies. Numberlefs inftances hereof are 
parncularly recorded in facred flory. And this is 
one of the ways, in which God has often threatncd 
to chaftize a wicked and rebellious people. This 
threatning was executed in a moft terrible manner, 
even on his chofen people Ifrael, after thay had 
filled up the meafure of their iniquities : when Jeru- 
falem v/as turned into an heap of ruins by the Ro* 
mans, whom he armed and fent againfi it. 

At other times God manifefls his righteous dif- 

pleafiire againft wicked cities and countries, by fa- 

B z mine. 



7 2 A Sermon occafmied by the 

riiine. Thus he reminds his people Ifrael, for their 
warning, of what he h d formerly done againft thera 
in this way ; and reproves them for their (lubborn- 
nefs under his afHi£liag hand. *' I have given you 
** cicannefs of teeth in all your cities, and want of 
'* bread — I have wiihholden the rain from you, when 
*' there were yet three months to the harveft : And 
*^ I caufed it to rain on one city, and caufed it not 
*' to rain on another city — Lhave fmitten you with 
*' blaPiing and mildew. When your gardens and 
'' vineyards, and your fig-trees, and olive-trees in- 
'' creaied^ the palmer- worm devoured them : yet ye 
" have not returned unto me, faith the Lord |" 

The peRilence Is another of thofe terrible judg- 
ments, by which God fometimes lays cities and coun- 
tries dcfolate. The Ifraeiites were often puniflied 
for their fins in this way, as they had been before 
threatned. '' I have fcnt amongfl: you the pefti- 
*' lencc", faith God to them, " after the manner of 
" Kgypt — and have made the (link of your camps 
''' to come up unto your noflrils : yet have ye not 
'' returned unto me." 

Many cities have been deflroyed by terrible earth- 
quakes ; fbme intirely ; and others fo far, as to be 
1 ailing mo uments of God's righteous difpleafure. 

O.MiTTiN'G innumerable other calamities and judg- 
ment?, by vv'l^ich God makes known his vi-rath againft 
wicked cities; I fliall here only fubjoin that of defo- 
lating fire. Tlras God threatned the king of Baby- 
Ion of old. '' Behold, I nm againfl thee, O thou 
^' moft proud, faith the Lord God of hoHs : for 
*' thy day is come, and the time that I will vific 
^' the — And I v.ill kindle a fire in his cities, and it 

\^ fhall 

f Amos Ch:ip IV. 



Fire in Bodon^ March 1760. 13 

" fhall devour round about liimf. " How many 
cities have been thus laid in ruins ? fome by fire 
from heaven, or mighty tempefts of thunder and 
lightning, as Sodom and Gomorrha : Of which cities 
it is faid, that they are '^ fet forth for an example, 
" fuffering the vengeance of eternal fire ; called 
eternal, becaufe thofe cities were never rebuilded, buc 
remained to all generations the monuments of God's 
wrath. But thofe fires by which God deilroys, -or 
forely chafiizes, proud and wicked cities, are not 
always thus kindled from heaven, as it v/ere imme- 
diately by the breath of God. They are more fre- 
quently lighted up by other means ; either by treach- 
erous intelline enemies with d^fign, or accidentally 
by other perfons. But by whatever means it comes 
to pafs, it is not done but by the will and appoint- 
ment of God, who over-rules all thefe events, and 
has, doubtlefs, important ends to accompliih by 
the til. * 

Alas 1 

t Jer. L. 3i> 32. 

* One of the greatelt and mod terrible fires known, was that 
of London in the reign of Charles II. A. D. 1666. Of 
which the reader may pieafe to take the following account, 
extracted from Dr. Smoliett'sGompleat Hiitory of England. 

" About this period, fays be, London was expofcd to a ter- 
rible difafter from a conflagration which broke out on the third 
day of September, in the houfe of a baker. The flames, aug- 
mented by a flrongly eafterly wind, raged with furprifing vio- 
lence. They deUroyed fix hundred ftreets, including eighty- 
nine churches, many hofpitals and public edifices, and thirteen 
thoufand two hundred private houfes. The ruins comprehen- 
ded four hundred and thirty-fix acres of ground. The con- 
fligraiion coutinued three days, notwithftanding all the endea» 
voars that could be ufed to (top its progrefs, the king and 
duke afTuling perfonally on horfe-back, from the firft alarm to 
its total ceffation. At length, when all hope had vaniflicd, and 
sh3 wretched inhabitants were overwhelmed with conftcrnation 

and 



14 A Sermon Qccaftoned by the 

Alas ! "We need not go to didant countries for 
examples of calamities of this kind. This capital of 
the province has feveral times fuffeied feverely by 
means of ^\^q : Particularly about fifty years ago, 
when a coniiderable part of the tov/n was reduced 
to ruins f . Since which there have been divers de- 
flruftive iires in the town, tho' all of them far lefs 
extenlive and ruinous. All of them, I mean, except- 
ing that of the laft week, which was doubtlefs by 
far ..the moO: terrible vifitation of the kind, that ever 
it experienced j whether we confider the number of 
the buildings, the value of the effefls confumed, 
or the multitude of people reduced to v/ant and 
mifery hereby. Some perfons of eafy, comfortable 
fortunes, arc brought at once into a itate of depen- 
dence but little better than that of beggary : Some, 
of large and affluent ones, have loft the greater part 
of what they poflelled : Whilfl others of the poorer 
fort have loft all ; and are, for the prefent, deprived 
of all means of getting a fubfiftence ; fo that they muft 
either periili, or become a public charge. 

Some 

and defpajr, it fuddcnly ceafcd, and was intircly extingulfhed* 
after having reduced many thoufand families from affluence to 
mifery, and the mod fiojrillsing city in Europe to a deplorable 
heap orrubblfh. Nevertheiefs the fpirit of the people did not 
iink under this calamity. London foon rofe more beautiful 
from its afhes. The king — • regulated the plans 

of the new flreets, fo as to render them more fpacious and 
convenient than thofe which had been burned- And he pro- 
hibited the ufe of lath and tiniber, as materials for the con- 
flruftion of the houfes. The narrownefs of the ftrects had 
not only fabjecled them to cafualtics of this nature, but alfo 
prevented a free circalation of air, which being impregnated 
with animal vapors, was apt to psurify, and produce infedious 
diftempers, infomuch that London was fcarce ever free from a 
contagion ; whereas no fjch diftemper has appeared fiace the 
city was rebuilt. '* 



4- T 



Upward? of An lv!r>dr^d !.>'v,!difi2''> were then confamed. 



F/r^ />; Bofton, March 1760, 15 

Some circumllances preceeding and attending this 
great difafter, are not unworthy of our particular no- 
tice. Fires have been more frequent in the town of 
late, than perhaps they have ever been in times pafi:. 
It is but three or four months fince a conliderable fire 
happened, whereby many perfons were great fuficrers.i- 
A few weeks after this, another fire broke out ; by 
which, tho' not fo many dwelling-houfes v/ere con- 
famed, yet perhaps as much damage was fuftained. * 
And for three days fuccefiively before tliis ia{l:,and moft 
terrible conflagration happened, the town was alarmed 
by fire. The firft of thefe fires broke out at a very 
fmall diftance from this place ; [j it got to a great head, 
and threatned to lay wade this part of the town, together 
with this houfe of prayer, the houfe of God, whereia 
we are nov/ alTembled j on v/hich the fire had a£lually 
taken hold. But, thro' the good providence of God, 
this very dangerous flame v;as happily extinguiftied, 
without the intire confumption of any one dwelling- 
houfe : and v/e are again permitted, contrary to the 
expectation of many, to affemble ourfelves for the wor- 
fhip of God, as ufual, in this place. So that we have, 
in this refpeft, caufe to fing of mercy, while, in others, 
we fing of judgment. 

The alarm on the next day, viz. on tuefday, was 
very great, and not without fufficient reafon : When,by 
fome means, thel.aboratory of the royal train of artillery 
here took fire, and was blown up -, when the adjoin- 
ing buildings took the fire alio, which was in imminent 
danger of being communicated to the king's (lores, in 

v/hich, 

f At Oli^ei'sdock; abcut 12 or ij fdmlllcs being then burnt 
out. , 

* At the weflerly part of the town ; when two rope-*va!ks, 
with their apparatus, were dertroyed ; and other effcs^ts to 
the value of fame thoufands of pounds. 

1; On Monday, March 17th. 



x6 A Sermon occajioned by the 

which, it is faid, a large quantity of powder, charged 
ihelJs, &c. were repofited. The apprehenfion of the 
fire's making its way to thefe (tores, and of the fatal 
confequences that might thence enfiie, put the town 
into a general confternation. It was fome lime before 
people thought it prudent, or advileable, to approach 
the fire, fo as to ufe any methods to extinguifh it. But 
on further information, and a more exac^ knowledge 
of the fituation and circumftances of things, they ap- 
plied themfelves to the bufmefs with great alertnefs and 
refolution. And thus this fire was extinguillied, when 
it had done only a fmall part of the damage that was 
apprehended from it j tho' in itfelf that was not in- 
confiderable. 

The day following,^ different parts'ofthe town, at 
different times, were alarmed with the cry of fire. It 
did not, however, then get to a confiderable head any 
"where, fo as to become dangerous: Only as there is 
always fome danger from a fire, tho' but fmall, in fuch 
a town as this -jcfpecially in fuch a dry and windy time 
as it was then. 

By thefe fires was ufhered in, that far greater, and 
more fatal one, which has left fo confiderable a pare 
of the town in defolation and ruin. * And there 
is one thing that deferves to be particularly men- 
tioned with reference hereto •, as it may tend to lead 
us into a proper confideration of the providence of 
God in this affair. When this fire broke out, and for 
fome time before, it was almoft calm. And had it 
continued fo, the fire might probably have been ex- 
tinguifhed in a fhort time, before it had done much 

damage, 

f Wednefday the 19th. 

* It was difcovered between one and two o'clock on Thurfday 
sioraing, the 20th, 



Fire in Bcfton, March 1760. 17 

damage; confidering the remarkable refolutlon and 
dexterity of many people amongll us on fuc'a occali^ns. 
But it feems that God, who had fpared us btfore be- 
yond our hopes, was now determined to \^t loofc his 
wrath upon us •, to " rebuke us in his anger, and 
" chaften us in his hot difpleafure.'* In order to the 
accompli fhing of which defign, fcon after the fire 
broke out, he caufed his wind to blow •, and fuddenly 
failed it to fuch an height, that all endeavours to put 
a ftop to the raging ftames, were ineffeclual : Tho* 
there feems to have been no want, either of any pains 
or prudence, which could be expected at fuch a time. 
The Lord had purpofed, and who fhould difannul it ^ 
His hand was ftretched out, and who fhould turn it 
back. + " When he giveth quietnefs, who then can 
make trouble ? and when he hideth his face, who then 
can behold him ? whether it be done againfl: a nation, 
or againfl: a man only."* It had been a dry feafoa 
for fome time •, unufually fo for the time of year. 
The houfes, and other things, were as fuel prepared 
for the fire to feed on : And the flames were fuddenly 
fpread, and propagated to diftant places. So that, in 
the fpace of a few hours, the fire fwept all before it 
in the diredion of the wind ; fpreading wider and wi- 
der from the place where it began, till it reached the 
water. Nor did it ftop even there, without the de- 
ftrudion of the wharfs, with feveral veiTels lying at 
them, and the imminent danger of many others.]! We 
may now, with fufficient propriety, adopt the words 
of the Pfalmift, and apply them to our own calamitous 

C circum« 

t rial. XrV. 37. * Job XXXIV. 29„ 

ji One large fliip, and eight or nine other ve^els were burnt i 
One of which was loaded, or partly loaded, with the king's 

' ordnance-flores, ready to fail. The South-battery on the 
water's fide was alfo deftroyed ; when fome barrels of pow» 
der taking fire, the explofion was heard, and even the ftiock 
felt, at many miles diftance. 



1 8 A 8er7non occafiohed hy the 

d.rcumuance?, " Come, behold the works of the Lord, 
" what defolation he hath made in the earth." So 
melancholy a fcene,occarioned by fire, was, to be fure, 
never beheld before in America •, at lead not in the 
Britiili dominions And when I add, God grant that 
the like may never be beheld again, I am fure you 
will all fay, Anieyi I 

In fliort, this mufl: needs be confidered, not only 
as a very great, but public calamity. It will be many 
yea.'s before this town, long burthened with fo grear, 
not to fay, difproponionate, a fhare of the public 
expences, will recover itfelf from the terrible blow. 
Nor will this metropolis only be affeded and prejudi- 
ced hereby. The whole province will feel it. For 
fuch are the dependencies and connexions in civil 
fcciety, regularly conftituted, that one part of a com- 
munity cannot be much hurt, without detriment to 
the red : As in the human body, if one member 
fufrer, all the other maembeis lulFer with it, Efpe- 
cially, if the HEAD be fick, or maimed, the whole 
body will foon feel the efTe<51s hereof, and partake of 
its fgfferings. And whatever feme weak, or envious 
perfons may imagine, the good of the province in 
general, is very ciolely conncded with the welfare, 
and flourifhing condition of this CAPITAL : So that 
if it Ihould fall into decay and ruin, the mod rem,ote 
parts of the country would very foon feel the bad 
cftefts of it. 

At whr.tever time this difafter had befallen us, it 
would have been a very great one : But it is particularly 
fo at prefenr, when both the town and country are lb 
much exhaufted by public taxes, efpecially the former : 
"When v/e have fuch a load of debt lying upon us *, a 
load ftill increafing, inftead of lelTening \ and when 

the 



Fire mBodon^ March 1760. 19 

the fcafon of the yearisjuft coming on, forprofccu- 
ting our military defigns and operations. This cala- 
mity could not well have befallen us at any time, or 
conjundure, wherein v/e fhould have been lefs able to 
bear up under it, and lurmount the difficulties oc- 
cafioned by it. But without any reference to thefe 
peculiar circumftances, which enhance the misfortune, 
the lofs or damage, confidered in itfelf, is fo great, 
that it, cannot be exactly computed in fo fhort a time 
as that fmce the calamity befell us. ji 

It highly concerns us rightly to improve this vifui- 
tation of providence, and to condud curfelves pro- 
perly under it. This will be, not only our wifdom, 
but our greateft fecurity againlt public calamities and 
difafters for the future, whether of this, or any other 
kind. We ihould neither defpife the chaftening of the 
Lord, nor faint when we are rebuked of him. 

C z Now 

JI In a vote which pafTed the Great and General Court on the 
faturday after the iate fire, it is faid to *' appear on the 
** beft information that could in fo (hort a time be obtained, 
** that there were confumed one hundred feventy-four 
** dwelling-houfes and tenements, and one hundred feveniy- 
** five warehoufes, fiiops and other buildings, with a great 
** part of the furniture, befides large quantities of merchan- 
" dize, and the ftock and tools of many tradefmen ; that 
** the lofs, upon a moderate computation, cannot be lefs 

** than one hundred thoufand pounds flerling ; and 

** that the number of families mhabiting the aforementioned 
'* houfes, was at lead tw0 hundred and twenty ; three 
** quarters of whom are by this misfortune rendered inca- 
** pable ofi^fubfifting themfelves, and a great number of 
** them reduced to extreme poverty, and require, immediate 
** relief. '* For which charitable purpofe three thoufand 
pounds currency, being about two thoufand two hundred, 
and fifty pounds (terling, was voted to be drawn out of the 
public trcafury ; and his Excellency the Governor dcfued to 
fend briefs throughout the province, rccommendino a rcr.c- 
ral contribution for the unhappy fuffcrers. 



•J D A Sermon occajiomd hy the 

Noyf/^ this being truly a public, as well as great ca- 
lamity, I fhall, in the First place, make iome re- 
Etxions upon it, which concern us all in common. 
Secondly, I fliall dired my difcourfe particularly 
to thofe amongft us, who have been more immediate 
fufferers therein. And Thjrdly, To thofe, whofe 
dwellings and fubftance have been prefcrved ; and 
'"^vho are not di redly involved in this calamity. 

First, It becomes us all in general, ferioudy to 
rfgarci the hand and providence ot God in this evil that 
has befallen us. This evil, this great evil, has not 
furely come upon us, but by his appointment, and 
according to his fovereign pleafure. Various conjec- 
tures have been made, and rumours fpread abroad, 
concerning the particular means, by which this raging 
i::nd deftfudive fire was fii ft kindled up. Which of 
them is right, or whether either of them be fo or not, 
I am not able to tell : Nor is this very material to 
my prefentdtfign. By whatevci means this calami- 
tous evQnt has come to pafs, wc are to look ftil! 
higher ; to the great Author and difpofcr of all things i 
For the Lord himfelf hath done it. We cuo;hc ulti- 
niately to regard liim therein, if there bcf^any fuch 
thing as a providence Superintending human affairs. 
" Except the L.ord keep the city, the watchman 
*'- waketli in vain : It is vain for us to rife up early, 
" or fit up late, to eat the bread of forrows. " And 
rhc iirfl: thing requifite, in order to a due improve- 
ment of this vification, is a fixed, firm perfwafion, 
that God's hand and counfel determined it to be done *, 
or that it is really a vifitation from him. We cannot 
proceed a ftep, in the way of religious reflexion upon 
itg unltfi we lay this down fiiil as a certain principle. 

^ • . . We 



Fire in Bofton, March 1760. 21: 

We ought, in \ht next place, to acknowledge the 
jaftice and righteoufnefs of God, in bringing this fore 
calamity upon us : For the Lord is righteous in all 
his ways, and holy in all his works, Juftice and 
judgment are the habitation of his throne, not only 
when the light of his countenance is lifted up, and 
fhines upon us in our profperity % but alfo when 
clouds and darknefs are round about him, and we 
are overwhelmed with adverfity. God does not af- 
flid willingly, or grieve the children of men, even 
when they have incurred his juft difpleaiure : Much 
lefs does he wantonly punilh the innocent. We may 
alTure ourfelves, it is not without juft and fufiicient 
provocation, that he has appeared thus againft us. It 
becomes us therefore to be humble and fubmiflive 
under his chaftening hand \ under this great frown of 
his providence. For " wherefore fhould a living 
^' man complain^ a man for the punifliment of his 
" fins 1 " 

This is a feafon, wherein it doubtlefs becomes us 
all ferioudy to examine our ways, in order to difcover, 
as far as may be, what are the fpecial grounds and 
reafons of God's difpleafure againft us, and of his con- 
tending with us in fo terrible a manner. Indeed this 
general confideration, that we are finful creatures in 
common with the reft of mankind, were plainly fufii- 
cient to juftify God's dealings with us, even tho' this 
calamity had been far greater than it is. However, 
the holy fcriptures give us reafon to think, that God 
feldom, or never, brings very great and public cala- 
mities upon a community, unlefs it is for fins of a 
very heinous and provoking nature. In which re- 
fpcdl, there feems to be a wide and material difference 
between the condud of providence towards nations, 
or communities, and towards particular perfons. For 

with 



2 2 A Sermon occajioned by the 

with regard to the latter, this certainly will not hold 
true ; the bed men being often the greateft fufferers 
in this world. " All things come alike to all ; and 
*' there is one event to the righteous and to the 
" wicked, '* if we fpeak with reference to individu- 
als, in this prefent ftace : So that " no man knoweth 
** either love or hatred from all that is before him ; " 
either by the profperity he enjoys, or the adverfity 
which he fuffers. Which feems not applicable to 
communities ; at lead, not eafily reconcileable with 
the fcripture account of God's condud towards them, 
to fay nothing of what wc are taught by experience. 

I PRETEND not to penetrate fo far into the views 
and defigns of providence, as to be able particularly 
and pofitively to determine, for what reafons it is that 
God has thus forely chaftized us. " His judgments 
are a great deep." We may, however, conclude in 
general, that whatever fins are mod prevalent amongft 
us, thefe are fins which have contributed moft to bring 
this great calamity upon us. In going thus far, there 
is no prefum prion. No particular fins, or finners, are 
indeed to be excluded, as not contributing to bring 
calamities upon a people, whenever God fends them. 
However, I fuppofe we are to look for the primary, or 
chief caufes of common calamities, not in a compara- 
tively fmall nimiber of particular perfons, however im- 
pious or profligate j but in the main body of a people. 
Common judgments muft ordinarily be fuppofed to 
to have fome common caufe. 

And are there not feme fins, with which we arc 
very generally chargeable ? If any one fliould ailert, 
that we were generally profane fwearers, whoremon- 
gers, drunkards, adulterers, thieves o|; li^rs, he would 
doubtlefa hinifejf deferve no better^ a chara^cr than 

that 



Fire in Bodony March 1760. 25 

that of a falfe accufer, and iliamelefs calumniator. 
There, are indeed, many fuch finners amongfi us ;. 
but it is to be hoped their number is fmall, in com- 
pariCbn of thofe who are guiltlefs of any of thefe 
crimes. But fuppofe any one fliould fay, that pride 
was a fin very generally prevalent amongft us, would 
he merit the chara<^cr of a falfe accufer ? If another 
were to aflert, that we were generally addi6ted to 
luxury, would he be a calumniator ? If a third were 
to tax us with being generally felfifh, and greedy of 
gain, without a due and proportionate regard to the 
welfare of the public, or of our neighbour ; could 
we truly deny the charge ? If a fourth were to ac- 
cufe us of formality in our religion, of laying too 
great ftrefs on fome things of little or no importance, 
and comparatively neglecting the weightier matters of 
the law and gofpel, could we juftly deny this to be 
our chara6ler ? I do not myfelf bring thefe general 
accufations ; but it would not be amifs for us ferioufly 
to confider, how far they might be jufl:. If there be 
a real and fufEcient foundation for them, we need not 
be at any lofs for fuch caufes of God's difpleafure^ 
as are common to us. 

Nor would it be improper for us, on this occafion, 
to inquire, whether we have been duly thankful to 
God for the (ignal mercies and deliverances which 
he hath vouchfafed to us in times paft. He has 
jfhown great favour and kindnefs to us at fundry times, 
and in divers manners. Tho' he has often contend- 
ed with us by fire heretofore ; yet how often have 
very threatning fires been feafonably extinguiflied ; 
and not permitted to prevail againft us. Have we 
generally been thankful, properly thankful, for thefe 
favourable appearances of providence for us, in the 
times of danger and fear ? If not^ our ingratitude in. 

this 



24 A Sermon occajioned by the 

this refpe^t, may be fuppofed one fpecial reafon of 
the late terrible calamity. God's defign may be, 
to make us more fendble of former mercies, by the 
greatnefs of the evil he has now brought upon us. 

God has repeatedly vidted us with earthquakes, 
the moft alarming in their nature of any of his pro- 
vidential difpenfations. However [his goodnefs and 
companion have dill fpared us in thefe times of 
Gur diftrefs, when we had reafon to apprehend the 
moft awful and fatal effe£ls of thefe vifitations ; par- 
ticularly of one of them^ a few years fince : Tho' 
about the fame time, the moft amazing defolations 
were wrought by earthquake^ in fome other parts 
of the world. Have we taken proper notice of his 
dealings with us in this refpe£l ? If not, this may 
be another reafon of the great calamity now brought 
ttpon us. 

Moreover : Our enemies, during the late and 
prefent war, have been forming dangerous defigns 
againft us, even againft this metropolis. But God 
has repeatedly blafted their defigns ; and has lately 
given us the moft remarkable fuccefs againft them - 
So that our once juft apprehenfions from them, are 
taniftied away ; and even turned into triumph over 
them. Have we been duly thankful for thefe de» 
Kverances and mercies ? If not, this may be one 
eaufe, why he has now deftroycd by fire, what he 
would not permit the enemy to deftroy. 

Perhaps we have rejoiced with an unchriftian, and 
inhuman joy, in the diftrelles and calamities lately 
brought upon our enemies ; when great part of their 
country was ravaged, their villages burnt, their ca= 
pital dty befieged, and partly confumed by firec' 



Fire in Bofton, Maich 1760. 25 

If we have rejoiced in their mifery with an unrelenting-, 
favage temper of mind, God may have been hereby 
provoked to bring this great evil upon us ; which, in 
its kind, bears fome refemblance to what^ they have 
fuffered. Or if we have not rejoiced in the mifery 
of our enemies with an unchrilfian, barbarous joy, 
perhaps we have triumphed over them with unchrilli- 
an pride ; and been vainly elated with the fucccfTes 
God has given us, inftead of being humbly thank- 
ful to him therefor. And if this be the cafe, God 
doLibtlefs defigncd to check our pride by this vifita- 
tion, and make us think more fobcrly of oiirfelves. 

But if there are no particular fins, wiih which 
we are chargeable in common ; yet are we not all 
in general chargeable with fome P fome of us with 
one vice, or mifdemeanour, and fome with another ? 
If fo, this is a fufficient ground for our being thu^ 
chaflized by a common calamity. And we were 
doubtlefs ripe for fome (ignal punifhment from ihs 
hand of providence, when this great evil came upon 
us. Many atrocious fms, and flac!;rant abominations, 
are found in the midfi: of us. To what an amazing 
pitch of wickednefs and impudence, fome pcrfons 
amongfl us were arrived, is evident even from fome 
tranfjflions at the time of the late terrible fire. For, 
indead of being affefted with fo melancholiy a pro- 
vidence, and charitably affifting people in faving their 
effects, fome there were, (b hardened and fhamelefs, 
as to take the opportunity of the general confufion, 
to rteal and rifle their neighbours goods I One would 
hardly have thought it poffible for people to be fo 
wicked, impious and abandon'd. 1 hope, indeed, 
there were not mr^ny fuch ; and that thefe were not 
born and educated amongfl us, tho' I am not certain. 
Bat wherever they were born and bred, they are 
D certainly 



2 6 A Sermon occaftomd by the 

certainly a di (grace, not only to their own country, 
but to the world itfelf, and to human nature. 

It does not become us, even the beft of us, on 
fuch an occafion as this, to juflify or excufe our- 
felves ; or to attribute this public calamity wholly 
to the fins of others. Probably none of us can in- 
tirely acquit ourfelves of having contributed to it, 
by our o.vn particular mifcarriages. And it highly 
concerns us all, ferioufly to refle£l: upon our paft 
conduct; and to humble ourfelves under the righteous 
liand of God. 

We may all learn fome very ufeful and important 
Icflons from this vifitation, if we duly attend to it. 
We are hereby more particularly reminded of the 
vanity of worldly riches, and the folly of depending 
on, or placing our chief happinefs in them. How 
fuddenly do they rake to thcmfelves wings, and fly 
away, as an eagle towards heaven, leaving the pof^-^ 
f llbrs of them deAitute, not only of iuperfluous 
VveaJch, but even of thofe things which are needful 
for the body ! This is one of thofe difpenfations of 
providence, which give a particular force and energy 
to thofe words of the apofile — '' Charge them that. 
*' are rich, that they trufl not in uncertain riches, 
'* but in the living God, who giveth us richly all 
^' things to enjoy' \- And alfo to that more general 
admonition of our Savioilr himfelf — '* Lay not up' 
*' for yourfelves treaiures upon earth, where moth 
'' and rufl do corrupt, and where thieves break thro* 
'' and fleal ; but lay up for yourfelves treafure in 
** heaven," &c. 

To finilh thefe general refle6lions : We are all in 
common admoniihed by this vifitation of providence, 

to 



Fire in Bofton, March 1760. 27 

to confider and amend our wjays. Doubtlefs the end 
of our being thus vifited and chafllzed, is our refor- 
mation. Whatever ferious refle£lions we may at 
prefent make upon this calamitous ^vent ; yet the 
great defign of it will not be anfwered upon us, if 
we continue unreformed. This is often the cafe, 
Pharaoh and his people were in fome meafure hum- 
bled, at the time when the plagues were upon them* 
Bur they foon forgat the judgments of heaven ; and 
became more hardened afterwards. This was fome- 
times the cafe alfo with the people of Ifrael. ** Thou 
" haft ftricken them", fays the prophet, " but they 
" have not grieved ; thou haft con famed them, buc 
'' they have refufed to receive corre£lion. They 
'' have made their faces harder than a rock, they 
*' have refufed to return". If we are nor reclaimed 
from oar fms and vices by this calamity, we have 
reafon to apprehend greater and heavier ones ; God's 
anger will not be turned away; but his hand will 
fhli be ftretched out againft us. O let us not, 
by our impenitence and hardnefs of heart under 
this correftion, provoke God to fmire us with greater 
fe verity ; left, perhaps, we perifii under his hand, 
while there is none to deliver ! But, on the other 
hand, if we duly lay to heart this fore chaftifement, 
and return to God, he v/ill doubtlefs return to us 
m mercy. *' Come then, and let us return unto the 
" Lord: For he hath torn, and he will heal us ; 
'* he hath fmitten, and he will bind us up". Tho' 
he hath vidted our tranfgreflions with a rod, and 
our iniquities with flripes ; yet his loving kindnefs 
will he not utterly take from us ; nor fuffer his faith- 
fulnefs to faiL 

But I was in the next place, ' 

• Seic^ondlT; To dire<f^ my difcourfe particularly 
ID 2 *- to 



2 8 A Sermon cccajioned by the 

to thofe nmongO: us, who have been the more im>- 
niediate fuficrers in this common calamity. My 
brethrejT, 1 trufl: we all in general heartily fympa^ 
thize with you, and bear a part in your affli6lion. 
But if it concerns us all in common, lerioufly to 
qonfidcr the hand of God in this vifitation, allow 
me to remind you, that it more efpecially concerns 
you to do fo, on whom this great calamity, by his 
appointment, has more immediately fallen. To us, 
this providence more than whifpers ; to you it fpeaks 
ftill louder, even in thunder. I would, however, be 
very far from infmuating, that the unhappy perfons 
who are the immediate fuhjedls of this calamity, are 
in general more guilty in the (ight of God than others. 
This would be at once uncharitable in itfelf, and a 
plain violation of a rule, or maxim, which our Saviour 
laid down on an occafion not altogether unlike to the 
prefent. But dill you muft acknowledge, that airho' 
the call and admonition of providence in this vi(irar 
tion, be to all of us in common ; yet to you it is 
more .dire<Sl: and immediate, as well as louder. You 
are efpecially admonillied to examine your ways, in 
this day of vifitation and trial. And if you ihould 
difrcgard this providence, you would doubtlels be 
more incxcu fable than others. 

It becomes you to bear your lofTes, however 
great,' with patience, and humble resignation to the 
will of God : For he it is, you will remember, that 
I.as. brought this evil upon you. Nor has he tnken 
any thing from you. which he did not firfl: give ro 
you. All ihar is in the heaven and in the earth, is 
his ; both riches niul honor are of him -[-. And you 
.ire fcnfjble that all his worldly and temporal gifts, 
are gifts only during his*good pleafure : Not abfolure, 

perpctv;al 

I I Chorn. XXIX. u. 12. 



Fire in Boflon, March \ 760. 29 

perpetual grants ; but fuch as he has an indifputabfc 
right to recall, at whatever time, and in whatever 
manner, he fees fit. You have therefore no reafbna- 
ble ground of complaint ; but ought meekly to ac* 
quiefce in what he hath done. It were not amifs 
for you on this occafion, to reile£i: on the much grea- 
ter lodes and fufferings of Job; and on the manner in 
which he condiK^edhimfelf under them. He *' fell 
** down upon the ground, and worfliipped, and {aid, 
'* Naked came I out of my mothers womb ; and 
'' naked ihall I return thither : the Lord gave, and 
" the Lord hath taken away ; bleded be the name of 
'' the Lord. Li all which Job finned not, nor 
*' charged God foolifhly"j. 

God has doubtlefs wife and holy, and even gracious 
ends, to anfwer by vifiting you in this manner. The 
vifitation is particularly calculated to wean your affec- 
tions from ihis evil world ; and excite you to feek, 
with greater diligence, the true, fpiritual riches. Per- 
haps your hearts have been heretofore too much {^i 
upon the world ; and thofe riches which will not 
*^ profit in the day of wrath." If this be the cafe, 
God hath lliown you your error by this vifitation of 
his providence ; and calls upon you hereby, for the 
future to fet your affe(ftions only on thofe things that 
are above, where Jefus Chrilf (itteth at his right hand. 
It will be happy for you, if you make fo rcafonable 
and wife improvement of your worldly lodes ; they 
will then be the greateft gain to you in the end. 
Any accedion to, or increale of your virtues, is of 
far more benefit and importance to you, than thoU-* 
funds of filver or of gold would be, or all worldly 
riches. Thefe are corruptible and tranfitory : buc 
that is a treafure that fadcth not away, incorruptible 
aiid eternal. And a good man, in the language of 
% Chap. I. the 



3 o A Sermon occafioned by the 

the apoflle, equally bold and beautiful, '' having 
*' nothing, .poflefleth all things' 1 

. Those whofe habitations and wealth have been 
confumed by this defolatihg fire, have ftill great 
caufeof thankfulnefs, that their Jiv€s have been pre- 
ferved. " The life is more than meat, and the 
'* body than raiment." Confidering the time when 
this fire broke out, being the dead of the. night, when 
people were in their beds, and fome of them on beds 
of ficknefs ; confidering the violence of the wind, 
aad the rapidity with which the flames fjiread, and' 
catch'd from place to place ; the wide extent of them, 
and the general confufion and confternation which 
they occafion'd ; confidering thefe things, I fay, it 
would not have been flrange, if many perfons had 
p^riflied together with their fubflance, and mixed their 
cwn aihes with that of their dwellings. But no life' 
lyas loft. In this refpe£t, God remembered mer* 
cy in the midil: of judgment ; which demands- our 
grateful acknowledgments ; and particularly the^ 
thanks of thofe, who were in danger of being con- 
fumed in their dwellings, as many of the unhappy 
fyfferers were. 

Besides : I take it for granted, that few, or none 
of you, ray brethren and ufual hearers, have loflall 
your worldly fubftance, as fome others are faid to 
have done. Let me therefore exhort you to be 
thankful toGod for what he has left you ftill poflcfled 
of ; efpecially if that be fufficient for you to fubild 
comfortably upon, in the way of honeft indufiry. 
Tho' you ought not to defpife the chaftening of the 
Lord in the lofTes you have fuftained j yet it becomes 
you to acknowledge his goodnefs in what is left you. 
It is not a greu deal that is neceiTary to the ends of 

lif? ; 



Fire in Bofton, March ly^o. 31 

life : virtue, and moderate defines, are latisfied with 
little ; and having food and raiment, you ought to be 
therewith content. We brought nothing into this 
world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out of 
it, how much foever we pofTefs : Though if we co.uld> 
it would be of no advantage to us. In heaven we 
fhould not need, but defpife and negle£l it j and in 
hell it would not alleviaie our torments. 

But if any of you fhould have lofl all your 
worldly fubflance by this calamity, you ought not, 
however, to defpond under this trial, or to faint, being 
thus rebuked of the Lord ; but ftill to place youf 
hope and truft in him, wlio heareth the young ravens 
when they cry. *' O fear the Lord, ye his faints ; 
*' for there u no want to them that fear him. The 
*' young lions do lack, and fufTer hunger ; but they 
" that feek theLord ihali not want any good thing§'," 
I reminded you above of the fuiferings and patienc6 
of Job ; let me now remind you of the *' end of 
the Lord" with refpc6l to him ; *' that the Lord is 
*' very pitiful, and of tender mercy f.*' That goo4 
man faw at length an happy ifTue of his troubles. 
For " the Lord blefTed the latter end of Job more 
than the beginning^". You may from hence take 
fome encouragement : God is able to make all things 
abound to you. And it is a circumftance not unwor- 
thy to remind you of, for your confolation, that you 
live in a country, at lead in a town, wherein there is 
a general difpofltion in the people to afford neceflary 
relief to the poor and afflided : So that you have 
no reafon to be under any anxiety of mind refpe(5ling 
a livelihood ; efpecially if you enjoy bodily health 
and firength, with ability to exercife fome lawful 
calling. But whatever be your condition in this 

world, 
5 Pfdlm XXXIV. 9, 10. t James v. n. * Chap.XUI. ver. 12. 



32 A Sermon occajtoned by the 

world, godllnefs with contentment will be, not only 
your duty, but your greateft gain. You fliould en- 
deavour to be prepared for whatever circumftances 
God fhall order for you ; and to this end, befeech 
him to give you the temper of the holy apoftle, who 
faid, " 1 have learned in v/hatfoever (iate I am, 
*' therewith to be content : I know both how to be 
" abafed, and I know how to abound ; every where, 
" and in all things I am inftru£led, both to be full 
" and to be hungry, both to abound and to fuffer 
" need f*'. Even the Son of man had not where 
to lay his head, tho' the foxes have holes, and the 
birds of the air have nefts. — And if the fame mind 
be in you, which was in Chrifl Jefus, you will bear 
the extremeft poverty without repining. Left there- 
fore you fhould be weary or faint in your minds, 
confider him, who '' tho' he were rich, yet for your 
fake became poor": Learn of him to be truly 
*' meek and lowly in heart ; and whatever be your 
outward condition, you will then *' find reft unto 
your fouls"; fuch reft as the greateft worldly prof- 
perity cannot give ! 

Thirdly : Let me now turn my difcour fe to 
thofe, whofe habitations and fubftance have been pre- 
jerved in this time of defolation ; efpecially to thofe, 
who have been in imminent danger of being fharers 
with others therein. As this calamity is from God, 
fo it is he who has diredled it where to fall, and 
prefcribed its bounds and limits. You fhould there- 
fore be fenfible, that he has been your preferver ; 
and made this diftinflion between you and others. 
If others ought to acknowledge his providence in the 
calamity which has befallen them, certainly it is not- 
iefs incumbent on us to acknowledge it in our own 

prefervation. 

t Plul. IV. II, 12. 



Fire in Bbflon, March 1760. 33 

prefervatlon. Had God, who commandeth the wind 
when and where to blow, given a different direction to 
ir, our habitations might have been confumed, while 
thofe of the prefent unhappy fafTerers were preferved. 
I mention this circumftance particularly, bccaufe it is 
familiar and obvious ; plainly fhowing, that it is God, 
and not man, who has made this difference ; an im- 
portant truth, which might be evinced by other con- 
fiderations alfo, were there tim.c and occalion for it. 

Nor ought we to attribute our prefervatlon to 
any fuppofed merit, or fuperior goodnefs in ourfelves ; 
or the fufferings of our neighbours, to any greater guilt 
or demerit in them. Our Saviour feems to have de- 
figned a general caution againfi fuch imaginations, in a 
pafHge which was alluded to above. When certain 
perfons told him of fome Galileans, whofe blood Pilate 
had mingled with their facrifices, expeiSling, probably, 
that he would have attributed this to the great wicked- 
nefs of thofe Galileans in comparifon with others, his: 
reply was — '' Suppofe ye that thefe Galileans were 
" fmners above all the Galileans, becaufe they fuffered 
" fuch things ? I tell you, Nay — Or thofe eighteen,' 
*' on whom the tower of Siloam fell, and flew them ; 
*' think ye that they were fmners above all men that 
*' dwelt at Jerufalem ? I tell you. Nay : Bat except 
" ye repent, ye fhall all iikewife perilh." Oar Sa- 
viour's meaning here is not, that thofe Galileans^ 
and thofe Jews, were not finners ; or that they did 
not juftly fuffcr fuch things on account of their fins. 
Neither of thefe things can be fuppofed. But the 
obvious defign of this remarkable pafiage is, to teach 
us that God, in his providential government of the 
world, does not always fingle out the greatefl (inners, 
to make them the greateft fufTerers in the fight of 
nien j and, confequently, that we ought not to con* 

£ clud^ 






A Sermon Qccajioned by the 



elude ouiTclves more righteous ihaii others, me-rely 
be^raufe we at preient- e(cape thofe judgments which 
befal othfr:^. God will finally give to every man 
ac<:ording to his deeds, in weight and meafurc, and 
Q'Az.E!i proportion. But at prefent he acHis as a fovc- 
reign ; I mean, in the outward difpcnfations oF his 
providenco towards particular perfons ; agreeably to 
the obfervations of Solomon, mentioned in the for- 
mer -part of this Difconrfe, that *' all things come 
alike to al! ; tliat there is one event to the righteous 
and the wicked ; and that no man knowcih either 
love or hatred from all that is before him." A great- 
er^' than Solomon has confirmed thefe remarks on 
the condui5l of divine providence. We flwuld there- 
tore take heed, that we do not attribute to our own 
fupcrior piety ^or virtue, what we ought to afcribe 
iolely to the fovercign pleafure of God, and his 
diiliiigujfhing favour towards us. For to apply our 
vSaviour's language and reafoning above, to the me- 
Jancholly occaflon before ns: Suppofe -ye that thofe 
who have lately fufFered fuch things, were finners 
above all that dwell in Boston ? 1 tell you, Nay ! 
Atf Jeaft, we have no reafon to think them fo, on 
thi-s account. Many who have cfcapcd this difafler, 
and perhaps we ourfelvcs, are as great, or greater 
iin^ers ; and except we repent, ibme '• worfe thing 
*' 'may come unto us ". 

\Vhat fliall v/e render unto the Lord for his dif- 
tinguifiiing goodnefs to us in this refpe(fl f* It becomes 
us to render praife to him; for " whofo offereth praifr, 
faii^h the Lord, glorifie'th mc." We fhould alfo (hew 
our gratitude to God, by devoting ourfelves, and all 
we- have, to his honor and fervice. His goodnefs and 
foibcarancc lead Us to repentance, while his righteous 
Ic^'critv is exercrfed towards others for-tiie fan>c general 
"^^ '- - end. 



Fire 171 Bofton, March 1760. 35 

end. Us he draweth with the cords of love, while he 
fcourgech others, not more guilty, with the rod of af- 
flidion. And fha!l we defpife his goodnefs, forbear- 
ance and long-fuffering ! If there be any peculiar au- 
dacioufnefs, or prefumption, in defpifing the cbaften- 
ing of the Ivord •, there is certainly a peculiar bafenef^ 
and difingenuity, in defpifing his goodnefs. We and 
our fubftance, have been as it were plucked out of that 
fire, by which others have fuffered fo much. Let us 
therefore take heed, left we incur that heavy cenfure, 
Amos Chap. IV. " I have overthrown fome of you 
*' as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrha •, and YE 
•* were as a fire-brand plucked out of the burning ; 
*'• yet have ye riot returned unto me, faith theLord :**, 



Will it not particularly become us to fnew our 
gratitude to God for his diftinguilhing mercy to us, 
by chearfully imparting of our fubftance for the relief 
of our indigent brethren ? The government has alrea- 
dy done fomething for their prefent relief. But ther^ 
being fo many of thefe unhappy fjfferers, they will 
doubtlefs (land in need of farther fuccour and afTiftance, 
before they are in any method of fupporting themfelves. 
And God forbid, that any o\ us who have elcaped 
this calamity, fhould be backward to diftribute, or un- 
willing to communicate, as there nwy be occafion, 
and we have ability ! One reafon, we may well lup- 
pofe, why God has fpared our fubftance, is, that we 
might be in a capacity to relieve and afiifl: thofe, 
whom his holy providence has rendered obieds of our 
charity. It is partly for their fakes, not wholly for 
our own, that our fubftance has been preferved. Nor 
can I indeed doubt, but that the people of the town 
will be generally difpofed to liberality on this occafion.; 
efp:^C!ally when I reQefl, how iarg^l^ and chearfully 

E 2 diev 



^6 A Sermon occafioned by the 

they contributed a few months fmce, on a fimilar 
occafion. f 

But it is time to draw to a conclufion of this dif- 
coiirfe. When God's judgments are abroad in the 
earth, it is then more elpecially incumbent upon the 
inhabitants thereof to learn righteoufnefs. It we do 
not regard the pad, or prelent, there may probably be 
other, and heavier ones, in ftore for us. At leaft it 
is certain, that the wicked fhall not finally efcape the 
righteous judgment of God. *' For behold the day 
*' Cometh that fhall burn as an oven, and all the proud , 
** yea, and all that do wickedly, fiiali be as ftubble •, 
" and the day that cometh (hall burn them up, laith 
*' the Lord of Hofts, that it fliall leave them neither 
*• root nor branch.'** Such a fire as we have lately 

feen, 

f About a thoufand pounds lawful money was collcffled in the 
feveral religious afTemblics in the town, for the relief of the 
lufferers by the late fire near Oliver's dock : A large funj, 
conddering the impoverifh'd and declining rtate of the town, 
and the greatnefs of the public taxes. And tho' the difpo- 
fnion of the people be ftill the fame, and the prcfent oc- 
cafion much greater, ai\d more urgent than the former; yet 
it will naturally be rcmember'd, that our ability is now kfs 
than it was then. The mare the town then gave away, the 
lefs It now has to give : And many who, as we fuppofe, con- 
tributed largely on that occafmn, are fo far from being able 
to do the like now, that t!*ey need relief tbcmfclves. 

It is to be hoped therefore, that our friends and brethren who 
live in the country, where their fituation fecures them fo ef- 
ic'^ually againd calamities of this nature, will ferioufly cos- 
iider the prefent dilheffcd condition of the town ; and fhew 
their chndian benevolcr.cc on this occafion, agreeably to the 
/^r;>/"whicii his Excellency theGovernor has iifued out. And 
v.c are the more encouraged to eKpefl this, by refleding 
ivow chearfully fomc of them midc collc61ion3 for the poor 
aaiongf!: us, at the time of the laft general fmall-pox in the 
:o\vn.^ — --*' With fufch facrifices God is well plcafed.'' 

*• Mai. IV. X. 



Fire in Boftoh, March 1760. 37 

Teen, efpecially in the nighr, drffufes' general- terror and 
diftrefs. What then will be the conlternation, how 
great the amazement, of a guilty world, when the Son 
of man iliall bs revealed from heaven in flaming fire, 
taking vengeance on them that know not God, and 
that obey not his gofpel ! The old world perifhcd b/ 
water : But the heavens and the earth that now are, 
are refer ved unto fire, againft the day of judgment, 
and perdition of ungodly men. And even thefe lelTer 
fires and conflagrations, which (Irike us with fo much 
awe, may naturally remind us of that general, and 
far more awful one, which the prophets and apoftles 
have foretold ; when the earth itfelf, with the works 
that are therein, Ihall be burnt up, and the elements 
fhall melt with fervent heat. — ^* Seeing then that all 
*' thefe things ihall be difTolved, what manner of per- 
*' fons ought we to be, in all holy converfation and 
" godlineis ? looking for, and hafting unto, the com- 
*' ing of the day of God ! *' — To the wicked this will 
be a day of unutterable woe ; but to them that fear 
his name, and ferve him, a day of triumph and exul- 
tation. Happy are they who diligent^Iy prepare for 
it. But, alas ! there are many, who v/ill not be per- 
fuaded, that there is fuch a day approaching •, " fcof- 
" fers, walking after their own lulls, and faying, 
" Where is the promife of his coming ? For fince the 
*' fathers fell adeep, all things continue as they were 
" from the beginning.'* And many of thofe who 
profefs to believe it, do riot pradlically regard it, mind- 
ing only earthly things : and fuch as thefe will accord- 
ingly be overwhelmed with a fudden and remedilefs 
deftruftion. For " as it was in the days of Noah, 
" fo fhall it be alfo in the days of the Son of man. 
" They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they 
*' were given in marriage, until the day that Noah 
^' entered into the ark : and the flood came, and de- 

*'- ftroyed 



-o 



8 A Sermon occaJioTied by theFire^ Mc. 



" ftroyed them all Likewife alfo as it was in the 
" days of Lot *, they did eat, they drank, they bought, 
" they fold, they planted, they builded : But the 
" fame day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained 
'' fire and brimftone from heaven ; and deftroyed 
*' them all : Even thus fhall it be in the day when 
*' the Son of man is revealed 1 "f 

fLukc XVII. 26-30. 



THE END, 



^ ->|* ^ <>|f »|* ^ -^4 *f ♦ tf« *!♦ ^ ^ 

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Bojlon^ April I. 1760. 

In about a Fortnight will be Publiflied, 

And Sold hy R. Draper/;/ Newhury-Streety and 
Edes <!^' Gill /// ^een-Street. 

PRACTICAL DISCOURSES delivered on 
Occafion of the EARTHQUAKES in 

November^ lySS. Wherein is particularly 
lliown, by a Variety of Arguments, 

The great Importance of turning our Feet 
unto GOD's Teftimonies, and of making 
Hafte to keep his Commandments ; 

Together with the Reafonablenefs, the Ne- 
ceffity, and great Advantage,of a lerious 
Confideration on our Ways. 

By JONATHAN MAT HEW, D. D, 

Paftor of the W^Esx-Church in Boston, 



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